May (Japanese: ハルカ Haruka) is the female choice for the player character in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and their Generation VI remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. She also serves as the rival in the same games if the player chooses to play as her male counterpart, Brendan. In the anime, May is a Pokémon Coordinator from Petalburg City in the Hoenn Region who became a new traveling companion to Ash Ketchum after Misty's departure before the beginning of the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire series where she mainly competes in Pokémon Contests.